One World Observatory: Here We come!

Funded Dec 29, 2015

In the morning of April 17, 2016, my FIHS Explorers Club students and I met up in McDonald's in Flushing for the much awaited trip of the year: One World Observatory. This is situated in what used to be the Twin Towers in New York City. We then took the train that brought us there. Everyone was so excited because they have heard great things about the One World Observatory (OWO) and they can't wait to experience it themselves. We finally arrived to the place and all the students were in awe of the wonderful place which is very much a great part of the history of not just New York City, but the entire United States of America.

One of the great highlights of the trip was the awesome elevator ride! It was approximately 30-second ride to reached 102 floors of the building. Yet, what makes it an awesome ride was not the time, it was the geographic and infrastructural history of New York City from 1500's to 2015 when OWO was opened. We saw these changes as we did the elevator ride because the inside of the elevator was surrounded by viewing screens. So it was a 360 degrees, N-S-E-W view of these changes happening or going on in the city since 1950's. Students were able to appreciate how NYC started as a vast (almost empty) land then became what it is today: full of skyscrapers and the grid city. The students were able to appreciate that New York City is not just any city that they know and now lived as their new home, but also how lucky they are to be a part of New York City.

This trip inspired the students to continue learning and appreciating NYC by being more proactive in making their dreams and tasks slowly but surely become a reality. In their classroom, the students are (I hope they will continue henceforth) actively participating in class and also tried to become leaders in small group work/project. They collaborate so that they will achieve success in their project.”

With gratitude,

Ms. Singson